The goal for the Giants was to win the game and, if at all possible, not get any of their key players hurt. The Giants did not succeed in either, as they were beaten by the undefeated Patriots 38-35 and lost three starters along the way.

In the first half, linebacker Kawika Mitchell and center Shaun O’Hara were forced off the field. Early in the fourth quarter, cornerback Sam Madison went out with a strained abdominal muscle. Their availability for next weekend’s playoff game in Tampa is uncertain. Sources indicated O’Hara and Mitchell are not serious, but that doesn’t mean they will be ready in one week.

O’Hara hobbled off with 1:38 remaining in the second quarter with a sprained left knee after he was rolled over while pass blocking. O’Hara was replaced by veteran Grey Ruegamer. Mitchell went down in the first quarter with a sprained knee. Mitchell was replaced by Gerris Wilkinson, the second-year player from Georgia Tech who has played sparingly this season.

Madison pulled up on a deep pass to Randy Moss that a wide-open Moss dropped. On the next play, Madison clearly was ailing, and Moss ran unimpeded for a 65-yard, go-ahead TD catch with 11:06 left.

Afterward, Madison offered no insight into his injury. “Hopefully, I’ll be there,” Madison said of the playoff game.

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There are strong indications the Giants-Buccaneers game in Tampa will be Sunday at 1 p.m. … Co-owner John Mara was on board with Tom Coughlin’s decision to play to win the game. “He told me he was gonna try to play to win but was going to use some common sense with certain guys if they needed a rest,” Mara said. “That’s what I as hoping he was going to say.”

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Domenik Hixon – returning kicks for the first time this season, replacing injured Ahmad Bradshaw – raced 74 yards, untouched, for a touchdown return to make it 14-10 in the second quarter. … Former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi has been hired as a consultant by Falcons owner Arthur Blank.